The proposed regulations released Saturday would allow the deposit of unused feed, fish feces, pest control chemicals and organic matter from anti-fouling measures. All are part of fish farming, but are considered deleterious substances.

"There is tons of human activity that generate deleterious substances that at the end of the day end up in the sea and could have a negative impact," says Gilbert.

"When we are dealing with fish farming, either shellfish or fin fish farming, we have the tools on hand to make sure those impacts are manageable."